It is the lowest point on Earth’s surface. Almost under 400 meters from the ocean surface. It is located in the Middle East, surrounded by Jordan, Israel and West Bank, and fed by the river Jordan. It holds seven times more salt water than the ocean. There are no marks of life beneath the Dead Sea.

On the western shore of the Dead Sea, there was an ancient city named ‘Sodom’. Prophet Lut (peace be upon him) was migrated to that city from Egypt. He was the nephew of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). At that time, the people were wicked, murderers, robbers, and they used to practice adultery. They rejected God’s command. Prophet Lut even found his wife as one of them.

Prophet Lut prayed to Allah, and Allah sent two angels to Prophet Lut, in the form of two handsome boys. Prophet Lut felt so powerless to protect them. Some homosexual people came and tried to snatch them from his house. Prophet Lut offered his own daughter in return for those two boys. They didn’t even seem to care. The Holy Qur’an states: ‘They moved blindly in the frenzy of approaching death.’ The two boys revealed their true identity to Prophet Lut. They said that they were sent by God to destroy this city. They also advised him to leave immediately.

Allah sent to them Prophet Lut as their savior. He was committed to preach them on monotheism. Only they were so deeply falling in their vicious works. They rejected him and didn’t even consider his warning. Even so, they threatened him. After a year, Allah sent two angels to him as a mark. He left that city with his few followers. His evil wife stayed behind. The Qur’an states: ‘So We saved him and his family, all except an old woman (this wife) among those who remained behind.’(Al-Qur’an, 26:160-171) Those angels told him that, very soon there would be a great punishment upon the unbelievers.

Allah punished the people of ‘Sodom’ for their evilness. He turned the city upside down. He sent a great tornado upon them and heavy rain with dark stones. The Dead Sea has been made as a symbol of God’s punishment. If someone travels to the Dead Sea, he/she is asked to recall that story.